Angel

I went to my grandfather's house for a visit the other day

And he asked me to help him clean up the garage

Going through piles of stuff

the decaying ruins of a statue laid at the corner of the room

quickly caught my attention

It was hard to identify what it was

Some shattered fragments rested forlorn on the ground

like abandoned children of a ruthless mother

I walked up close to observe the crumbling statue

And picked up some to piece together

It was a lovely and delicate wing marred with dark blots

I could easily envision its pristine beauty

Aside of the fragments was an intact women's head

Her eyes were closed and she looked angelic and saintly

with a pure tender smile

The wrecked statue was undoubtedly an angel

Time, Age

It is almost as hard for friends to meet

As for the morning and evening stars

Tonight then is a rare event

Joining in the candlelight

Two men who were young not long ago

But now are turning grey at the temples

...To find that half our friends are dead

Shock us

Burn our hearts with grief

We little guessed it would be twenty years

Before I could visit you again

When i went away

You were still unmarried

But now these boys and girls in a row are 

Very kind to their father's old friend

They ask me where I have been on my journey

And then

When we have talked awhile

They bring and show me wines and dishes

Spring chives cut in the night-rain

And brown rice cooked freshly a special way

...My host proclaims it a festival

He urges me to drink ten cups--

But what ten cups could make me as drunk

As I always am with your love in my heart?

...Tomorrow the mountain will separate us

After tomorrow who can say?

Thought

A lonely swan from the sea flies,

To alight on puddles it does not deign.

Nestling in the poplar of pearls,

It spies and questions green bird twain.

"Don't you fear the threat of slings,

perched on top of branches so high?

Nice clothes invite pointing fingers,

High climbers god's good will defy,

Bird hunters will crave me in vain,

For I roam the limitless sky."